Richard Hatch, BSG Captain Apollo, dies from cancer at 71

Richard Hatch lost his battle to cancer yesterday at the age of 71. Image: Radio Gunk.

Richard Hatch died on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 71 in his Los Angeles, California home. The actor was known for his stellar roles in the original Battlestar Galactica series and the 2003 remake.

His son, Paul Hatch, released a statement to the press on the evening to let both fandom and press know about his passing.

The man known for playing Captain Apollo in the 1978 sci-fi classic died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Fans of the series and the genre took to social media to express their sadness. Battlestar Galactica co-stars and Hollywood personalities also bid Richard Hatch farewell after learning the news.

Richard Hatch did not want to become an actor

Richard Hatch did not want to be an actor. Image: NBC News.

In spite of becoming one of the most recognized faces of the 80s, Hatch did not have a passion nor an interest in acting at first.

As a college student, the actor took an oral interpretation course after being left without a spot in an English class. The BSG star reminisced about the lessons on his website, saying he ended up failing it because he could barely open his mouth.

Some years of experience were all it took for Hatch to opt for the theater and join the Off-Broadway circuit, where he started his stage career with several roles.

In 1970, an opportunity would knock on his door to offer him a role in All My Children, his first TV appearance. After that, he starred in Cannon, Barnaby Jones, Hawaii Five-O, and The Streets of San Francisco.

Then, a leading role in Battlestar Galactica came along in 1978. Hatch took part and played Captain Apollo on screen for one season before the show was canceled. His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination the next year.

From then on, the actor would become an even bigger icon for his guest appearances on shows like Murder, She Wrote, Baywatch, The Love Boat, and MacGyver.

Richard Hatch advocated for the Battlestar Galactica remake

After the 70s and 80s, Richard Hatch continued to work, but his fame started to dim. That did not stop him from advocating for a proper remake series of the original Battlestar Galactica.

After playing Captain Apollo on the show, the actor developed a strong bond with the BSG universe and fought for its revival over the next couple of decades. He even went and made a 30-minute short film called The Second Coming.

Hatch had himself a view of what the show should be if a network picked it up, but when the moment came for Syfy to stand up to the challenge they picked Ronald D. Moore’s script instead.

Captain Apollo was no more, and the veteran actor went on to play Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica for the duration of the show. The BSG remake won Emmy and TCA awards for both its story and special effects.